"Girl's Day (period)" remark by referee against Ji So-yun, Players' Association steps in: "A disgraceful act that caused shame... The referee must be expelled and severely punished."

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korea Professional Football Players Association (KPPA) has demanded strict action from the Korean Football Association (KFA) and the Korea Women's Football League (KWFL) regarding a controversy over a referee's sexually harassing remarks during a recent WK League match.

The incident occurred in a match between Suwon FC Wimin and Seoul City Hall held at Suwon Sports Complex on the 28th. Around the 30th minute of the first half, Suwon FC striker Ji So-yun protested to referee Bae Seon-young, causing the game to be suspended for about four minutes.

According to Suwon FC and other related entities, Ji So-yun raised an issue after hearing the referee make a remark meaning "She's been sensitive since the beginning. Maybe she's on her period." She received a warning during this process. It is understood that instead of using the direct word "period," the referee used the euphemism "Girl's Day."

Referee Bae Seon-young, who initially denied making the remark, later admitted to the slip of the tongue but explained it was "just something said among ourselves."

The Players' Association characterized this not as a mere dispute over a call, but as a serious violation of human rights and an abuse of power. Lee Keun-ho Seon Su-hyeop (Chairman) criticized: "A referee who should be closest to protecting players instead caused irreparable shame to a specific player in front of all players from both teams, and then wielded power like a weapon using cards to cover it up. This is a terrible act that cannot be tolerated in any professional league worldwide."

KPPA Secretary-General Kim Hoon-ki also stated: "Even the opposing team's Seoul City Hall players clearly heard the unbelievable sexually harassing remarks from the referee and were shocked, unable to contain their horror." He added, "The desperate appeal from players on the field is that incidents like Ji So-yun's could happen at any time as a second or third case."

The Players' Association has demanded the immediate formation of an emergency response committee by the KFA, calling for ▲the establishment of a transparent referee assignment body, ▲the expulsion of the involved referee, and ▲severe punishment through referral to the Korea Sports Council's Sports Korea Fair Trade Commission.

Furthermore, the Players' Association plans to coordinate with the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) to share this incident with both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

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*This content was translated by AI.